Means for generating combustible gas



Oct. 26, 1937. w. H. HERMsDoRF 2,096,804

MEANS FOR GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE .GAS

Original Filed Aug. 22, 1931 Patented Oct. 26, 1937 NETED STATES PAT OFFICE Walter H. Hermsdorf,

Chicago, Ill., assignor to S. H. G. Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 22, '1931, Serial No. v 558,656. Divided and this application November 11, 1933, Serial No. 697,562

1 Claim.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 558,656 filed August 22, 1931, of which Serial No. 46,635 filed October 24, 1935, is a continuation.

This invention relates to improvements in a means for generating combustible gas by mixing combustible vapor and air, and refers specifically to means for maintaining the ratio of vapor and air relatively constant throughout varying oper ating conditions.

The utility, objects and advantages of my nvention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detail description.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation, partly in section of apparatus embodied in my invention. l

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 indicates a tank or vreservoir which may be divided internally by a partition 2 providing a liquid compartment 3 and a gas compartment 4. The compartment 3 is adapted to contain a quantity of combustible liquid such as gasoline, pentane, or the like. The tank or reservoir I may take any desirable form such as the usual cylindrical tanks common in the art.

An air supply pipe 5 may be connected at one end to a suitable source of compressed air such as a blower or compressor, not shown. The opposite end of said pipe may be connected into a regulating valve 6. The valve 6 may be provided with two outlets into one of which the pipe 'I connects, the pipe 8 connecting into the other. The arrangement is such that compressed air passing through the pipe 5 and entering the regulating valve 6 will pass into the pipe 'I. However, initially no air will pass from the regulatingY Valve through the pipe 8 until the pressure built up within said valve reaches a predetermined maximum value. The constructional features oi the valve are such that it will then permit air to pass through the pipe 8. A check valve 9 may be interposed in the pipe'l and opens away from the regulating valveV 6. In other words, air passing through the pipe 'I from the regulating valve 6 is permitted to pass in one direction only, that is, away from the regulating valve v6. The'opposite end of the pipe 'I is connected to one leg of the control valve l2. The opposite end of the pipe I I may be connected to the elbow I3 which, in turn, Y

is connected to nipple I4, the nipple I4 serving y tifo connect the elbow I3 and the fitting I5., The

lori

' may be connected at its opposite end toY 'a float valve 2l The float valve 2I may comprise a casing 22 provided with a closure 23 which may be bolted or otherwise fastened to iianges 24 provided upon one end of the casing 22 as shown at 25. The closure 23 may be provided with an aperture into which bushing 26 may be threadedly positioned, the bushing 26 serving as a connecting medium between the pipe 20 and the interior of the casing 22. The closure 23 may also be provided with an inwardly extending neck 21 into which may be threadedly positioned an apertured plug 28. A float 29 may be positioned within the easing 22 and may be provided witha lug 30 which may be pivotally mounted upon a portion of the inwardly extending neck 21, 'said pivotal mounting occurring at 3 I. A spring 32 such as a leaf spring, blade spring or the like may be operatively associated with the float'29 and operates to maintain said float in a normally horizontal position within the casing 22,. A pin 33 may be carried by the lug 3D and is adapted to operate as a valve closing the aperture, not shown, within the plug 2,8

upon upward or downward movement ofthe float v n It can readily be seen thatftwhen Suicient i causes the float to rotate downwardly about thev v pivot point 3IV and thereby pulls pin 33 outwardly with respect to the plug 28 and permits the liquid 7 from compartment 3 to pass into the casing 22. By the provision oi a float operated valve of this character the level of liquid within the casing 22 can be maintained substantially constant inasmuch as movement of the float is responsive to Y very minute changes in level of the liquid within the casing. As can be readily seen the sensitivity of the operation of the float may be varied by changing the strength of the spring 32.

A pipe 34 may connect the lower portion of the casing 2,2 with a metering valve 35. The valve 35 may be provided with inlet 36 and outlet 31 and Y a pin 38 threadedly positioned within the body of the valve 35 may serve as a controlling means for the passage of liquid from the inlet 33 to the outlet 31. VThe lowerrportion of the pin may be4`Y provided with a V-shaped groove 39 which, if

desired, may permit Vthe passage of a'minute quantity of liquid through the valve. It can readily be-seen that by rotatingpin 3B the lower portion of said pin may be brought Vinto'. close..

proximity or removed remote from the aperture into which said pin normally sets andithereby..

passage of liquid through thelvalve may bey ac-v curately controlled.

A pipe 40 may connect the outlet of the meter- 4|. pipe 40to the vaporizer 4| .maybedividedand enter said-vaporizer lthrough bothpipes 42-.and

43; The `purpose andoperation of thewheating The .heater or-vaporizer 4|-1may vcomprise v a.

casing :541i having two. longitudinal Ycon'ip'artinents 54- and 55-,which extendsubstantially the entire 3011engthof theheater 4|`.A Thetwo `compartments 54 and 55 .at= their: lower lends. connect` Iinto `a x ing valve 35 and a heating member or vaporizer The` stream of liquid-passingithroughthe:

'e1ement -4| will be hereinafter` moreriullyadecentral .,.longitudinaL compartment :56.3 Electric.-

heating element 56 or the like,V may beposie-f tioned adjacent the..,walls-v of the.- compartments positioned-screens 51 and consequently thefheat The-- vapors thus f generated pass upwardly through the fcentral compartment 53.'.4

:." Disposed parallel to-the central; compartment 56,.and positioned adjacent 4thereto is ajtube 58-V 45j;z conducted byfsaid screens f from xtheaheating ele-YV I ment-s isimparted to saidV downwardly' passing liquid and the-sameiis changed tofthe'vapor state.v

provided intermediate its lengthY withra restrict# v ed portion159having'isubstantially the 'formofv v a Venturi tube. r An opening imayconnect the be seen, air passing from the regulating valve 6 into the'` tube =58Ywillinduce the passage of the vapors within 56.throughrthe'tubef53; pipe 5|v and 'into compartment 4:2 Y Y l Aa-pipe #may connect at one end linto the upper portion of the casing 22 Vof the'- float valve 2| 5 anclmay beyconnected atits'opposite' end linto the e1bow46. YIn this mannerfit can readily be seen,VV

r'that the interiorof -the iioat valve-2|1will be subu` jected to thesame ,pressure which exists within thefpipe connections between vthe regulating valve 6 and -the vaporizer 4 Y In" operation; the-compartment 3 maybe subgasoline, pentane, alcohols Yorthe'like.` Air under' pressure may be passedthroughthe pipe 5to -the yregulating valve Y6 #and the-arrangement is 75 'such-thatesaid air will pass directly .through the 5upperfiportion ofthe compartment 56.` withthe neck-inf the -Venturivtube Y59wand'as can readily l Y against a variableback pressure, that is, a pres# between the minimumto the i stantially filled witha combustible,H readily -vav l porizablef liquid such-'as Va hydrocarbon liquid,

` sure which Vvaries regulating valve 6 and be discharged through the pipe 1. The ow of air continues through the pipe 1, check Valve 9, pipe valvef |2 and into the upper portion of the compartment 3 therebyY Y establishing a condition of superatmospheric pressure Within said compartment. When the pressure within compartment 3 reaches a predetermined maximum as indicated by the pressure` gauge the valve 6 automatically acts to permit air under pressure to be discharged through the outlet 8 vin addition to its passage through the outlet 1, In this manner a flow of air under pressure takes place through the outlet pipe-8, pipes 48, 49 and 5D, and through the neck ofthe venturi 59, the pipe 5| and into the gas chamber4. At this period, however, inasmuch as superatrnospheric pressure exists withinfthe i compartment 3, liquid yfrom said compartment will be forced upwardly through the pipe'IB-j-theline 20 and into the casing 22 until sufficient' liquid hasaccumulated therein to 'actuate :theY float 29 `to -close Ycommunication between the line 20 and the casing 22; f `By the prof vision of the pipe 6| the liquid within thecasing 22.will be subjected to the same pressure as exists withinthe piping system 8, 48;'49- and-,50,.and

liquid, as has been hereinbefore described, lwill-y contact the hot fwalls andy thel `hot screens 51 within the compartmentsy 54 and 55 and will thu-sf` be'vaporized': Air,'simultaneously, ofcourse,-is,

passed through thefVenturi tube 59 and inasmuch as the connection between the Venturi tube '59sand the compartment 56 occurs at the neck of the;

Venturi tube', a zone of -reduced 'pressure 'willbe established by the increased velocity of the fair passing through said'neck and,'fconsequently, the

vapors`contained within the-compartment 56wili be inducedthroughthe opening 60-and-wi-1l=ad mix with the air passing through the Venturiqv tube.A The -airf carrying the vapors in'entrain` ment Iwill then bey passed downwardly through the-pipe 5|- and`into compartment 4. In .this

manner a `highly eilicientcombustible gasV having r a relatively constant B. t. u. contentwill be formed.l Y Y Y If desired, the operation of the blower which furnishes air to the system may be so arranged as tobe energized when, the pressure within thev gas compartment hasy reached apredetermined minimum and may be shut oftwhen the-pres sure within said compartment rreaches a predetermined maximum. For instance, the pres-` sure of the gas within ther compartment 4 may be maintained--within four Vto vsix* pounds per square'inch as a maximum andtwojto three pounds per square inch as a'minimum.

Under these circumstances it can 'readilyfbe-v seen that when the pressure within the gas cornerbegins its operation to rthe maximum pressure at whichV said operation ceases, the air, carrying partment 4 is being built up from the minimum" Y VVpressure at whichthe blower or air compressor.

vapors in entrainment passing through the pipe.VV 5| into theY compartment 4 will be discharging i maximum.

It hasY heretofore been vproposed to introduce i the combustible liquid into contact with the. air

by maintaining; substantially constant pressure" Chamber. The air thatis introduced intocontact with the liquid, of course, is under blower pressure, consequently it can be seen that as the back pressure within the gas compartment 4 varies, the rate of the passage ofi air from the blower will be decreased due to the raise in pressure of the compartment 4. However, inasmuch as the pressure' .within the liquid compartment is'iconstant, a'variable quantity of liquid will be introducedV intoA entrainment with thev air per unit of time during'thebuildingup of pressure within the gas compartment from the predetermined "minimum value to the predetermined maximum value. It can readily be seen that a ,variation of this sort tends to the production of 'a gas having a non-uniform, oaloriflc value.

To obviate this difficulty I propose to isolate a. quantity of liquid from the main bulk supply of liquid within the compartment 3, said isolated quantity being maintained within the oat valve casing 22. The pressure within the casing 22 inasmuch as said casing is connected into the piping system between the regulating valve 6 and the vaporizer 4I by means of the pipe 5l is maintained at blower pressure, consequently, the pressure of the air admixed with combustible liquid and the pressure of the combustible liquid isv obtained from the same source. Hence when the pressure within the compartment 4 builds up from the predetermined minimum value to the predetermined maximum value, the velocity of air through the Venturi tube 59 will decrease, in other words, a smaller quantity of -air per unit of time will pass the neck of the Venturi tube. However, inasmuch as the pressure upon the liquid varies directly as the air pressure upon said liquid in compartment 22, a vsmaller quantity of liquid will be introduced into the vaporizer 4| during the period that the lesser quantity of air passes through the Venturi tube. e In this manner the ratio of the mixture of liquid and air may be maintained substantially constant even though the pressure into which said mixture is being discharged varies. In addition, the eiiiciency of blowers and air compressors, more particularly blowers of the rotary type, decreases rapidly with an increase in back pressure. Hence, by subjecting the liquid within the casing 22 to the same pressure as that of the air in the blower connection to the vaporizer 4I, this variation in eiciency, due to the varying pressure within the compartment 4 is compensated. This permits the use of aneconomical type of blower which would be impractical to otherwise use.

By the provision of the casing 22 maintaining a bulk supply of liquid, the static pressure head of the liquid is maintained constant inasmuch as the float 29 tends to maintain the level of liquid within the casing 22 constant. Therefore, inasmuch as the static pressure head of the liquid is constant and the pressure on the liquid due to the air from the piping system 3, 48, 49 and 59 varies in proportion to the passage of the air through said system, constant proportions of liquid and air will be mixed within the vaporizer 4I and, hence, regardless of the varying pressure into which the combustible mixture is being discharged the proportions of said mixture will'l which tends to cause an area ofreduced pressure adjacent its neck and a connection is Ymade at said neck with the central compartment 56 thereby inducing the vapors within the vaporizer to flow toward the neck of the Venturi tube.

The ratio of the quantity oi air mixed with the quantity of liquid determines the heat value of the resultant gas. If it is desired to change the heat content of the gas generated, the quantity of liquid introduced into contact with theair may be readily controlled by manipulationy of metering valve 35, the operation of which has been hereinbefore described.

An additional advantage which exists in the use of an isolated body of liquid maintained under a pressure which varies as the blower pressure is the elimination of the loss in pressure which the level of the liquid in the main bulk supply tank lowers or decreases. It can readily be seen that if the liquid were discharged directly from the bulk supply contained within the compartment 3 into contact with the compressed air, the pressure of said liquid would vary since the height of the liquid within the compartment 3 would vary.v

In other words, as the liquid within compartment 3 was consumed, a greater pressure would be utilized in forcing the liquid from its lowered position within the compartment 3 to the Vaporizer, consequently as the level of liquid within rthe compartment 3 would lower, other things being equal, the caloric value of the gas would likewise decrease and the product-ion of a gas having a constant B. t. u. content would be substantially impossible.

By the use of the isolated body of liquid within the float valve 22, the liquid contained within said valve or within the casing 22, would not only be subjected to a pressure equal to the pressure of the blower, but inasmuch as the float 29 maintained the liquid within said compartment constant, the pressure of the liquid introduced to the vaporizer 4| due to the constant head of liquid within the casing 22 would be constant. Consequently, the change in B. t. u. content of the generated gas due to the varying head of liquid within the liquid compartment is eliminated.

A pipe 62 may be connected into the fitting l5 at one end and may be connected to pipe 63 at the other which extends downwardly intothe gas compartment 4. A valve 63 may be interposed in the pipe 62 and may, if desired, be manually operated. By the provision of this piping system in the event that liquid, combustible or otherwise, accumulates within the gas compartment 4, the pressure within the liquid compartment 3 may be relieved in an obvious manner and the valve 63 opened. At this period inasmuch as the pressure within the gas compartment 4 is greater than the pressure within the liquid compartment 3, said accumulationof liquid in the lower portion of compartment 4 may be forced upwardly through the pipe 63 and into the compartment 3. Also, by the provision of a system of pipes of this character, the liquid may be removed from one compartment tothe other in case of emergency, for instance, an injuryrto the confining walls of one or the other of the compartments.

It is apparent that herein is provided a method and means of making combustible gas which may be used either for home or industrial purposes; a method of generating combustible gas 1 whereby the calorific value thereof is maintained erating conditions. 'I'heapparatus--suitable rfor carrying out my invention is of lrelatively .simple construction, is rugged and can beeconomically constructed and operated. Y Y

By the expression ."atmospheric air as used in the specification and claim' is meant, air whichfis unimpregnated with the vaporsof a combustible-'liquid I claim asA my invention: An apparatus for making carburetted air gas which comprises-in combinatioma chamber for combustible liquid and a chamber for combustible gas, means connecting into 'said' liquid chamber whereby air under pressure may beV supplied to 'said chamber, anelectricallyetreated vaporizer,`

liquid chamber and the air passed Vthrough-said'.`

air piperbeing derived from the same source,

means 'connecting`v said liquid chamber toesaidgr vaporizer for conducting liquid to said vaporlzerfVV wherein it is vaporized,v said-air pipe'beingpof sitioned adjacent said vaporizer, aVenturi vtube comprising a portion of said ,air pipe, said Ven@V turi tube `having an opening in itsA neck whichAVA connects with said vaporizer whereby `vapors areV drawn into the air passing. through said tubes,V Y WALTER H. :HERMSDORFTY 

